Bring Blorbo the Shrewd 25 Hobgoblin Hides

Introduction

High fantasy is a place where adventures are plentiful and the coolest treasure awaits the person with enough guts to go out and find it, so it makes sense that in this type of fantasy there would be a least such curiosities as: Bring Blorbo the Shrewd 25 Hobgoblin Hides. Of course, this should sound weird, but it became another living idea of its own in the world of games and memes, and unofficial campaigns. But who, and what is the Shrewd Blorbo, and why does he want all these hobgoblin hides?

So, what is the world-building? How does the game play mechanics look like? What lore is there to the quest?

Who Is Blorbo the Smarts?

Many depictions and descriptions of Blorbo the Shrewd tend to depict a mysterious goblin merchant, alchemist or tinkerer usually on the edge of a large city or lost in the depth of one of the merchants caravans. His unusual attitudes towards bargaining, extremely sharp intellect, and morally ambiguous approach established Blorbo as a notable NPC to be encountered in some homebrew campaigns and fantasy fiction in general.

• His incisive wit refers to his extraordinary power to transform the most blas e object into magic, or at least, into something that can be sold.
• Bring me the skins, adventurer… not to be used as clothing, no no… but to be used scientifically.
• Blorbo the Shrewd

Reason behind 25 Hobgoblin Hides.

Why 25? Well, it may be a random number, but in the context of gameplay, it is sometimes a standard goal of grinding-style missions. The hobgoblin hide is requested, so it seems that Blorbo needs something sturdy, magic-resistant or alchemically active. They are commonly tougher and more warlike in comparison to their cousin the goblin so their skins could have:

• Armor crafting durability
• Enchantment relics
• Exchange value against the underground markets
• Dark magical uses (on alignment basis)

This may demand the hides be fresh, untainted or even processed in a particular manner depending on how your Dungeon Master interprets it or how the game mechanics will dictate.

Quest Design is Bring Blorbo the Shrewd and quest needs 25 Hobgoblin Hides

This is an example of a framework that such a quest might take in a tabletop RPG (such as Dungeons & Dragons) or an RPG video game:

Quest Giver:

The Messy Bazaar, outside Ironcrag Citadel, has Blorbo the Shrewd.

Objective:

Get 25 Hobgoblin Behind in the Ashfang Ravine.

Optional Requirements:

Tanned hides are to be in condition of hide-intact (cannot be killed or require skinning skills).

An extra reward will be a bonus arcane-marked hide given to the Hobgoblin Warlord.

Rewards:

Gold (200-500) as a function of hide quality

Outstanding trophy: Blorbo Patchwork Cloak of Evasion

+1st Standing with the Crimson Tanners Guild

Utilization and Memetic Value in Games

The name itself has become a minor part of the meme culture of fantasy and games, since it so accurately describes the mad-but-lovable nature of MMO-style fetch quests. It is a slogan that brings to mind:

• A grind-based mission that consists of fighting in a common pattern
• A crazy NPC saying strange things
• The end reward was surprisingly good

This can be used as a meta-quest by game designers who can mock the cliches at the same time as rewarding the completion. YouTuber and streamers even joke about the term of Blorbo quests to refer to any grindy and excess-specific game goal in a RPG.

Variants and Epilogues

Wish to include this quest in your video game or campaign? 

• Moral Dilemma: Find out that Blorbo is using the hides to do evil experiments on creatures he summons.
• Faction Conflict: There is an angered tribe of hobgoblins who will attack the party due to the completion of the quest.
• Time Limit: Blorbo has 3 in-game days (lasting not more than 3 days in the real world) to obtain the hides before the next lunar eclipse.
• Plot Hook: The hides produce magic language writing on them that leads to a secret dungeon.

Conclusion

The name of the quest, Bring Blorbo the Shrewd 25 Hobgoblin Hides, is not the only reason why this quest is so entertaining to play, but it is a great illustration of how the funniest names of quests can make the most memorable experiences in games. Either in its mocking form or the form of a serious plot, it manages to reflect the essence of the plane of fantasy adventures: peculiar demands, madmen, and unforeseen consequences.

And when you feel that diabolic chortling sound as you round the corner and come face to face with the patchwork stall of a goblin peddler, edge your knives–because Blorbo is waiting.